Hot take: Galentine’s Day > Valentine’s Day. For far too long, romantic love has been toted as the end all, be all – the ultimate love that far outweighed anything else.
Not only is it unrealistic of us to expect our partners to fulfill every single one of our needs, it’s also unfair view friendship as lesser than romance. What does that say about the way that mainstream culture views single people?
February 10, 2011 was a day that helped change that. Amy Poehler’s NBC sitcom “Parks and Rec” aired the episode “Galentine’s Day.” Basically, it’s a holiday that invented by Poehler’s Leslie Knope to celebrate and appreciate your best female friends. It “officially” takes place on February 13 – the day before Valentine’s Day – but you do you. And don’t let the “Gal” in “Galentine’s” stop you from including your genderqueer and non-binary pals in your platonic lovefest, either.
1. Empowering and Enlightening Vegan Literature
What better way to celebrate your gal pals than with some pro-intersectional vegan literature? Gain new perspectives from “Aphro-ism: Essays on Pop Culture, Feminism, and Black Veganism from Two Sisters” by Aph and Syl Ko, which connects race, feminism, and animal rights. Gift a classic like Carol J. Adams’ “The Sexual Politics of Meat,” which reveals the connection between meat, animal exploitation, and sexism. Dr. Breeze Harper’s “Sistah Vegan” collects essays, poems, and perspectives from Black vegan women. Your activist friend will thank you for a copy of “Striking at the Roots,” a book by Mark Hawthorne that addresses effective activism, self-care for burnout, supporting prisoners, and living with non-vegans. Or, pick up a copy of “Veganism in an Oppressive World,” an anthology of essays from vegans of color that reveals how the lifestyle goes beyond just what’s on your plate.
2. Kush Queen Black Magic Bath Bomb
Give your witchy friend a gift to help take their mind off modern woes. Cruelty-free CBD skincare and beauty brand Kush Queen makes a vegan bath bomb that’ll turn your bath water black. The limited edition Black Magic CBD Bath Bomb features skin-softening extra virgin olive oil and notes of lavender, chamomile, and frankincense – scents known to help you relax.
Check it out here.
3. Amore di Mona Connoisseur Vegan and Fair Trade Chocolate
Who says sharing a box of chocolates is exclusive to romantic relationships? This box by Amore di Mona features 24 luxury vegan chocolates made from fair trade cocoa sourced from France and Belgium. The “Connoisseur” collection features an assortment of dark chocolate hearts and caramels.
Check it out here.
4. Brain Dust
That friend if yours who’s really into adaptogens will appreciate Brain Dust, an herbal blend of herbs and medicinal ‘shrooms said to combat stress and promote mental clarity. Just add to hot water, add it to coffee or tea, or mix it with frothy plant-based milk.
Check it out here.
5. Vegan Lip Balm
Hurraw! lip balms are like cruelty free and vegan Lip Smackers for grown-ups. Made from organic, cold-pressed vegetable oils, your can rest easy knowing no bees were harmed. You can customize a set of five flavors and there are 25 to choose from.
Check it out here.
6. Donate to Charity
https://www.instagram.com/p/Btd6x7WhJtz/
Donate to a cause your Galentine cares about in their name. Do they care about fair wages and that access to vegan food is a right, not a privelage? Send some love to the Food Empowerment Project or Chilis on Wheels. Give money to their local LGBTQ alliance or make a night out of putting together a box of necessities to donate to the local women’s shelter. Help causes that aim uplift people who are often left out of the conversation, like the National Center for Transgender Equality, the National Disability Rights Network, the Sex Workers Outreach Project, Black Lives Matter, or the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
7. Loose Leaf Tea
We all know someone who loves tea. Tiesta Tea’s relaxing Lavender Chamomile loose-leaf herbal tea combines the aforementioned with lemongrass and blue mallow blossoms into a relaxing blend. Throw in a steeping mug for a complete set.
Check it out here.
8. Herbivore Pink Clay Face Mask
Herbivore’s Pink Clay face mask is cruelty-free, vegan, and free from fillers, artificial colors, fragrance, and sulfates. Its key – French pink clay, kaolin clay, rosehip, and chamomile flowers – leave skin feeling soft.
Check it out here.
9. Support an Independent Business
Sometimes, the best gifts don’t come from bigger companies, but from local crafters. Find out where the latest craft fair is taking place and pick up a one-of-a-kind mug, unique pins, or home decor for your friend. Etsy is also a great place to find and support small vegan businesses, like the retro-inspired VeganPowerCo.
